Automatic chemical fire-extinguisher.



No. 705,503. I Patented July 22, |902.

L. WERLUN.

I AUTOMATIC CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

(Application med Jan. 20, 1902.)

(No Model.)

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS WERLUN, OF ELSMERE, DELAWARE.

AUTOMATIC CHEM ICAL: FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 2055503, dated July 22, 1902. Application filed January 20, 1962; Serial No. 30,413. (No model.)

provements in Automatic Chemical Fire-Ex-' tinguishers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to automatic chemical fire-extinguishers, and more particularly of the type in which a liquid is precipitatedfrom one receptacle into another for the purpose of generating a gas fatal to combustion.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a view of the fire-extinguisher, partly in section and partly in elevation. Fig.2 is a fragmentary plan of the distributing-ring; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section of the fire-extinguisher,the inner casing being removed. Fig. 4 shows the alarm mechanism, consisting of an ordinary electric bell.

The flask or outer containing vessel 1 is provided with a permanent bottom 2 and with a detachablev dome-shaped cover 3. Inside of this dome -shaped cover and concentric with the flask is acylinder 4, detachably secured in position by means of bolts 5. An annular member 6, made in halves, secured together by means of bolts 7, encircles the upper portion of the flask 1, as shown more particularly inoFig. 2. The central portion 8 of this member has substantially the form of a semitube and is provided with perforations 9. Around the upper end of the flask and concentric thereto is a thin membrane 10 of annular form and made, preferably, of

tin-foil or some similar substance which can easily be ruptured by means of pressure, against which membrane the annular member 6 bears. The upper portion of the flask is provided with a circle of holes 11, disposed centrally of the semitube and normally covered by the thin annular membrane 10.

The inner cylinder 4 is not quite long enough to reach the bottom of the flask and clears the same by a slightspace 12. This leaves an annular space 13 between the inner surface of the flask and the inner cylinder. Suspended from the cover 3 is a basket 14,-

causes a gas to be generated.

which supports a cup 15, normally filled with a liquid 16, preferably an acid. A thin disk 18, of tin-foil or some similar substance easily to be ruptured, rests upon the top of the cup 15 and is firmly secured thereto. Upon the annular mouth 17 of the cover 3 there rests the annular flange 19of a funnel-shaped of spherical bodies26, such as shot. Upon either side of said neck are disposed rods '27,

slightly hooked at their lower ends, as shown, forthe purpose of tentatively supporting the doors 28, which'support the spherical bodies 26. These doors are pivoted at 29 and are adapted to swing downward, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and to engage the electrode 21.

In the neck 25 are receptacles 30 31, containing wax or some similar material which is readily fused and in which the rods 27 are embedded. So long as the wax or similar substance does not melt, these rods support the doors 28, and consequently support the load of the bodies 26. When,'however, the wax melts, the rods 27 descend slightly and release the doors, thus establishing electrical communication between the wires 23 and 24, completing the circuit and actuating the alarm bell B. In doing this the shot is precipitated upon the disk 18, rupturing the same instantly and filling the cup 15. The result is the acid 16 contained in the cup is precipitated into the body of the flask,where it unites with the alkali 34 in the flask and Theneck of the flask being provided with screw-threads 32 and with a gas-tight stopper 33 eif ectually prevents the escape of the gas thus generated. The result is that the pressure of the gas upon the top of the liquid 34 forces the liquid inside of the inner cylinder downward and causes the liquid of the annular space 13 to rise, pass through the holes 11, and be sprayed out through the perforations 9, thus extinguishing the fire. The inner cylinder4 is removable, however, as indicated in Fig.

If the inner cylinder is removed, the action is slightly different. In this case the gas does not cause the liquid to rise, but instead'the gas itself passes through the holes 11 and out of the perforations 9.

The operation of my device will be readily understood in view of the foregoing explanation. The vessel as a whole is placed in some part of the house to be protected from fire and located at a point near the ceiling where itwill becomparativelyinaccessible. If now a fire breaks out in the vicinity of the vessel, the wax members 30 and 31 will melt and the fire is extinguished, as above described, the electric alarm being actuated at the same time. The device is therefore automatic. It will be observed, therefore, that I have invented a simple and convenient device, not liable to get out of order, and which can be manipulated by any person of ordinary intelligence. It can be constructed at a nominal cost and is highly efficient for the purpose intended.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. An automatic chemical fire-extinguisher, comprising separate receptacles for holding liquids to be used in generating a gas fatal to combustion, a substance tentatively held adjacent to one of said receptacles, heatcontrolled mechanism for precipitating said substance into said receptacle adjacent thereto for the purpose of displacing the liquid into either receptacle, and means for distributing the gas thus formed.

2. An automatic chemicalfire-extinguisher, comprising separate receptacles for holding liquids to be used in generating a gas fatal to combustion, a substance tentatively held adjacent to one of said receptacles, heat-controlled mechanism for simultaneously actuatin g an electric alarm and precipitating said substance into said receptacle adjacent thereto for the purpose of displacing liquid into either receptacle, and means for distributing the gas thus generated.

3. An automatic chemical fire-extinguisher, comprising separate receptacles for holding liquids to be used in generating a gas fatal to combustion, a receptacle for tentatively holding a material for displacing one of said liquids and provided with movable doors for supporting said substance, and a heat-controlled mechanism for automatically controlling said doors for the purpose of precipitating said substance.

4.. An automatic chemical fire-extinguisher, comprising separate receptacles for holding liquids to be used in generating a gas fatal to combustion, a receptacle for tentatively holding a material for displacing one of said liquids and provided with movable doors for supporting said substance, said doors being capable of conducting an electrical current, electrical contacts to be engaged by said doors for the purpose of actuating an electric alarm, and a heat-controlled mechanism for automatically controlling said doors.

5. An automatic chemical fireextinguisher, comprising separate receptacles for holding liquids to be used in generating a gas fatal to combustion, a receptacle for holding a material for displacing one of said liquids and provided with swinging members for tentatively supporting said substance, rods provided with hooks for normally supporting said doors, and bodies of fusible material for normally supporting said rods.

6. An automatic chemical fire-extinguisher,

comprising separate receptacles for holding liquids to be used in generating a gas fatal to combustion, a receptacle for holding a material for displacing one of said liquids and provided with swinging members for tentatively supporting said substance, said members having electrical conductors, electrical contacts to be engaged by said members for the purpose of actuating an electric alarm, rods provided with hooks for normally supporting said doors, and bodies of fusible material for normally supporting said rods.

7. An automatic chemical fire-extinguisher, comprising a flask provided with a circle of holes, an annular member encircling said flask adjacent to said holes and provided with perforations, said holes and perforations being for the purpose of distributing an agent used in extinguishing fires, and means for automatically forcing said agent through said holes and said perforations.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS WERLUN.

Witnesses:

E. B. SHURTER, P. J. CARNEY. 

